The Loya Jirga, or Council of Elders of Afghanistan, was opened today in Kabul. The Loya Jirga will select the new transitional government of Afghanistan, which will hold power until elections are held. The head of the organizing committee for the Loya Jirga opened the session, which includes more than 1,500 representatives from various ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The Loya Jirga was scheduled to take place yesterday but was postponed by one day to resolve disputes regarding the role of Mohammad Zahir Shah in the new government. Zahir Shah later announced that he is neither a candidate for the leadership of the country nor holds any position and fully supports the candidacy of Hamid Karzai, the current leader of Afghanistan, for the leadership of the new government.
The Council of Elders of Afghanistan Has Been Opened - 2002-06-11
The Loya Jirga, a council of elders in Afghanistan, convened in Kabul to establish a new transitional government. Over 1,500 representatives from various ethnic groups participated, and the meeting was delayed to address disputes over Mohammad Zahir Shah's role. Zahir Shah has declared his support for Hamid Karzai's candidacy for leadership.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Loya Jirga convened in Kabul to establish a new transitional government for Afghanistan, with over 1,500 representatives participating. The session was delayed to resolve disputes regarding the role of former King Mohammad Zahir Shah, who ultimately supported Hamid Karzai's candidacy for leadership.
- The Loya Jirga includes representatives from various ethnic groups in Afghanistan.
- The meeting was postponed to address disputes about the former king's role in the new government.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Loya Jirga is a traditional assembly in Afghanistan that has historically been used to resolve major national issues and establish governance structures. Its convening reflects efforts to create a representative government after years of conflict.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%